Industry shake-up: leadership shifts and hires

Industry leaders across the food and beverage sectors have announced several major leadership changes and strategic appointments this February.

Organisational transitions
Fresh Produce Consortium (FPC): Chief executive Nigel Jenney will step down in early 2027 following a structured transition period. He will remain a non-executive director to provide strategic support. Concurrently, longstanding chair Alan Forrester will also stand down once a new chair is appointed.

SIG Group: Mikko Keto is set to assume the role of chief executive officer on March 1, 2026. Anne Erkens, who served as interim CEO since August 2025, will continue in her primary role as CFO.

Board and executive appointments
Lamb Weston: The company has appointed Jan Craps as executive chair, effective February 6, 2026, a newly created role focused on M&A, international market execution, and long-term strategy. Additionally, James D. Gray will join as chief financial Officer on April 2, 2026, succeeding Bernadette Madarieta.

Kersia UK: Andrew Downie has been named the new managing director. With over 30 years of experience, including leadership roles at ABF, Pataks, and Silver Spoon, Downie will focus on acquisition integration and a “people-first” operational approach.

Lupa Foods: Ben Pearce has been promoted to commercial director. Previously the purchasing director since 2020, Pearce has been key in aligning the company with the Geia Group following its 2025 acquisition.

Data and compliance leadership
Valpak by Reconomy: Phillip Crum has been promoted to director of data insights. Crum will lead a team of 250 data professionals, overseeing regulatory and commercial data for over 60 million packaging products globally as new packaging regulations emerge worldwide.